the walls it seemed as if his piercing eye could picture Charles
as he lay dying.

The weather was perfect. A broad band of sunlight lay on the distant
fields, bathing in liquid gold the tops of the forest trees, proud of
the richness of their first foliage. The very stones of the prison
itself, gray as they were, seemed impregnated with the gentle light of
heaven, and some flowers, lured by the breath of the east wind, had
pushed through the crevices of the wall, and were raising their disks of
red and yellow velvet to the kisses of the warm air.

But Henry's eyes were fixed neither on the verdant plains nor on the
gilded tree tops. His glance went beyond, and was fixed, full of
ambition, on the capital of France, destined one day to become the
capital of the world.

"Paris," murmured the King of Navarre, "there is Paris; that is, joy,
triumph, glory, power, and happiness. Paris, in which is the Louvre, and
the Louvre, in which is the throne; and only one thing separates me from
this Paris, for which I so long, and that something the stones at my
feet, which shut me in with my enemy!"

As he glanced from Paris to Vincennes, he perceived on his left, in a
valley, partly hidden by flowering almond-trees, a man, whose cuirass
sparkled in the sunlight at its owner's slightest movement.

This man rode a fiery steed and led another which seemed no less
impatient.

The King of Navarre fixed his eyes on this cavalier and saw him draw his
sword from his sheath, place his handkerchief on the point, and wave it
like a signal.

At the same instant the signal was repeated from the opposite hill, then
all around the chateau a belt of handkerchiefs seemed to flutter.

It was De Mouy and his Huguenots, who, knowing the King was dying, and
fearing that some attempt might be made on Henry's life, had gathered
together, ready to defend or attack.

Henry, with his eyes still on the horseman he had seen first, bent over
the balustrade, and shading his eyes with his hand to keep out the
dazzling rays of the sun, recognized the young Huguenot.

"De Mouy!" he exclaimed, as though the latter could hear him.

And in his joy at seeing himself surrounded by friends, the king raised
his hat and waved his scarf.

All the white banners were again set in motion with an energy which
proved the joy of their owners.

"Alas! they are waiting for me," said Henry, "and I cannot join them.
Why did I not do so when I could? Now it is too late